Mail-bag.



E. G. KIMMEL.

MAIL BAG.

APPLICATION FILED APB.26, 1911.

1,021,837. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

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E. G. KIMMELL MAIL BAG. APPLIGAIION FILED APR. 26 1911.

1,021,837. Patented Apr. 2,1912.

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, UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE.

EARL G. KIMMEL, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG.

- Johnstown, in the county of Cambria' and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bags, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in mail bags and the like.

The objects of my invention are to provide a mail bag which shall have a relatively small closure and to have a closure which shall reduce the possibility of taking mail from the bag and to have the parts of said .closure relatively strong but comparatively very light. v

Other objects of my invention will become apparent as it is more fully set forth.

In the appended drawings, which'illustrate by way of example, an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of an open bag embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a mail bag in closed position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line aa of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line b?) of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a holder supporting the bag; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the holder showing an inverted view for the mail bag.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts throughout the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a mail bag which is provided in its upper or mouth portion with an extra fold of material 2 adapted to fold between thebag when the same is in closed position. This fold of material is provided in the bag by lengthening the front upper side portion of the same, this lengthening being preferably arranged for, when the bag is being constructed. The bag is so arranged, as just described, in order to permit the bag to be folded on itself and closed in the manner to be disclosed in a later part of the specification. Mounted on the top of .the bag is a leather piece 3 having a narrower. piece 4: fastened to its inner side. These pieces of leather are fastened or sewed to the onehalf of the bag of that side opposite that which has the folded portion 9.. Mounted and secured to the edge of the other side is a hinged framework 5 which is provided with a hinge 6 on the middle portion there- S pecification of Letters Patent.

of. -This hinge is preferably shaped of a somewhat wedge design, and of two plates and connecting rivets. The framework 5 consists of two pairs of plates having one of their edges somewhat rounded, as clearly indicated inthe drawings. Between each pair of plates are disposed'a'number ofpieces of leather which are flush on the straight edge of theframe, but which leave a slight groove 7 011 the curved side, this groove ber PatentedApr.2,1912. Application fi1ed'Apri126, 1911. Serial No. 623,345. p

ing large enough to permit the insertion of the narrow piece of leather 4 when the bag is in a closed position.

8 are rivets for fastening the various pieces of leather to the framework.

In order to keep the plates closed a catch 9 is provided on one end of the upper portion of the plates, for which purpose I anticipate the use of a hasp and lock or other suitable means for locking these parts together. The hinges 10 are provided on the end of the framework and secured to the ends of the pieces of leather 3 and 4 in order to keep these parts suitably together. 'In order to close the foldedportion 2 a draw string 11 is provided for the purpose and, in order that the edges may come in line with one another, a lip 12 is fastened to one side of the framework and a slot 13 made for it on the other side. f In operation, the bag is usually in a position shown in Fig. 1 ready to receive the mail, etc. The operator draws the string 11,

which leaves the bag fully open, and the port-ion 2 out of the way. The framework 5, by its shape and position,tends to stiffen out the leather 4 and 5 and keep the bag open. When the bag is full the frame pieces 5 are pulled in the direction of the arrows and closed with the leather pieces 3 around them, and thereby force the inner portion or narrow pieces of leather 4 into the groove 7 which tightens the leather around and securely to the outer or curved portion of the framework. Before the edges are brought entirely together the draw-string is loosened so that the bag will not interfere with the closing of the framework. As the parts come in close cont-act the lip 12 is guided into the groove 13, and the straight edges of the framework brought close together, and then the hasp or catch is locked. It will be noticed in Fig. 2 that as the framework is brought together the peculiar shape of the hinge 6 not only serves as a hinge, but also serves to lock and cover that portion of the framework. At the same time its rounded portion serves to give shape and strength to the leather. The draw string 11 is provided in order that the fold 2 of the bag may be drawn up close to the framework so that it will be out of the way when the mail is deposited within the bag.

In Fig. 4 is shown a peculiar shaped holder which is particularly suitable for holding this type of a bag. The holder can be fastened to any suitable place in a horizontal position so that its lip or tooth 14 extends beyond the edge of said support. A little way from the outer edge of this piece, and under a portion of the lip 14 is a catch 15 which serves to catch onto the hinge 6 of the framework and adjust itself, until the outer portion of the lip fits into the groove 4: of the framework, thereby securely holding the mail bag in position to receive mail and the like.

The part 2 of the bag has surplus material provided therein, in order to enable the bag to be readily folded in the manner described. The draw-string 11 is particularly intended to draw up this surplus material so that it will be out of the way when the bag is opened and in a position to receive the mail or the like.

While I intend this particular type of bag to be used for mail transportation, still I do not wish to limit myself to its use in this particular way as I anticipate that it can be used for many purposes other than these, and I do not Wish to limit myself in any way, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art, as many modifications of my invention can be made without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a mail bag, the combination of a strip of flexible material fastened on one-half of the upper portion thereof, plates having one of each of their end portions hinged to the end portions of said strip, said plates having their outer portions relatively flat and their inner portions conveXly shaped, a hinge connecting the other ends of said plates and arranged to permit the end portions of said plates connected thereto to move inwardly, so that their convex sides will engage with said flexible material and close the opening of said bag, said hinge being also arranged to permit the flat portions of said plates to engage with one another when in closed position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX 'mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

EARL Gr. KIMMEL. Witnesses:

E. C. IVEAVER, H. J. MoCHEsNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents. each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

